The Dynamic Equilibrium of Hexakis(pentafluoroethyl)distannane Adducts [XSn(C 2 F 5 ) 3 {Sn(C 2 F 5 ) 3 }] - (X=Cl, Br, I, Sn(C 2 F 5 ) 3 ).

The tin-tin bond cleavage of hexaorganodistannanes by nucleophiles is a long-known reaction and widely used for stannate formation or stannyl group transfer. Herein, we detail our experiments to provide analytical evidence for the existence of the reasonably stable anionic complexes [XSn(C2 F5 )3 {Sn(C2 F5 )3 }]- (X=Cl, Br, I, Sn(C2 F5 )3 ) derived from hexakis(pentafluoroethyl)distannane. NMR investigations at low temperature lend further mechanistic insights. Thus, by detection of the imposing ion [Sn(C2 F5 )3 {Sn(C2 F5 )3 }2 ]- , one can surmise that the chemistry of Sn2 (C2 F5 )6 has more in common with the isolobal iodine than with classical distannanes.